Flush toilet

ABSTRACT

A flush toilet includes a toilet bowl part structured to have a bowl-like waste receiving surface, a rim part structured to form an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part, and a water discharge part structured to discharge flush water into the toilet bowl part to form a swirling flow, wherein one surface part out of a front surface part and a rear surface part of the toilet bowl part is provided with one end part of a front-rear direction of the toilet bowl part, and the flush toilet further comprises an upper guide part structured to be provided on a flush water path from the water discharge part to the one end part and guide at least a part of the flush water upward.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Japanese Application Nos. 2018-152214, 2018-152215, and 2018-152216, each filed on Aug. 13, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a flush toilet.

JP 2015-169004 A discloses a flush toilet including a toilet bowl part, a rim part forming an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part, and a water discharge part forming a swirling flow by discharging flush water into the toilet bowl part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An inner peripheral surface of the rim part usually has a smaller radius of curvature at a front surface part or a rear surface part of the toilet bowl part than at a side surface part of the toilet bowl part in plan view, so the flush water which runs along the inner peripheral surface of the rim part is applied with a large centrifugal force. For this reason, the flush water rising by the centrifugal force is likely to jump out of the toilet bowl part at the front surface part and the rear surface part of the toilet bowl part. As a countermeasure against the above problem, a method of regulating a movement of flush water by an overhang surface formed on an inner peripheral surface of a rim part has been generally employed (see JP 2015-169004 A). The inventors of the present application have recognized that there is a new method for implementing this countermeasure.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology capable of inhibiting flush water from jumping out of a toilet bowl part.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure may solve the above-described problems relates to a flush toilet. A flush toilet according to some embodiments includes a toilet bowl part structured to have a bowl-like waste receiving surface, a rim part structured to form an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part, and a water discharge part structured to discharge flush water into the toilet bowl part to form a swirling flow, wherein one surface part out of a front surface part and a rear surface part of the toilet bowl part is provided with one end part of the toilet bowl part in a front-rear direction, and the flush toilet further includes an upper guide part structured to be provided on a flush water path from the water discharge part to the one end part of the toilet bowl part and guide at least a part of the flush water upward.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure for solving the above-described problems relate to a flush toilet. A flush toilet according to some embodiments includes a toilet bowl part structured to have a bowl-like waste receiving surface, a rim part structured to form an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part, and a water discharge part structured to discharge flush water into the toilet bowl part to form a swirling flow, wherein one surface part out of a front surface part and a rear surface part of the toilet bowl part is provided with one end part in a front-rear direction of the toilet bowl part, and the flush toilet is structured to form an induction flow, which flows upward and then flows downward on a flush water path, by guiding at least a part of the flush water upward on the flush water path from the water discharge part to the one end part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a toilet device according to some embodiments together with a functional block;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a flush toilet according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along C-C in FIG. 6;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along D-D in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along I-I in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along II-II in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along IV-IV in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along V-V in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a flow direction of flush water flows in the flush toilet according to some embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a view of the flush toilet according to some embodiments as viewed from a rear on an upper left side;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view a part of the flush toilet according to some embodiments as viewed from a left side;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along E-E of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along F-F of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a centrifugal force acting on flush water; and

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view showing a part of a flush toilet according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to some embodiments described above, it is possible to form an induction flow which is guided upward and then directed downward by a weight of the induction flow on the flush water path by the upper guide part. For this reason, as compared with the case where such an induction flow is not formed, it is possible to reduce an upward velocity component of a water flow which runs along one surface part of the toilet bowl part and inhibit the flush water from jumping out of the one surface part.

In some embodiments, compared with the case where such an induction flow is not formed on the flush water path, it is possible to reduce an upward velocity component of a water flow which runs along one surface part of the toilet bowl part and inhibit the flush water from jumping out of the one surface part.

In the following embodiments and modifications, same reference characters denote same constituting elements, and the repetitive description is omitted. In each drawing, part of the constituting elements may be appropriately omitted, or the size of a constituting element may be appropriately enlarged or reduced, for the sake of convenience. The drawings should be viewed according to directions of reference characters.

An outline of a toilet device 12 using a flush toilet 10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a toilet 10) according to some embodiments will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the toilet device 12 together with a functional block. FIG. 1 is also a plan view of the toilet 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B of FIG. 1.

The following description will be made using a front-rear direction X, a left-right direction Y, and a top-bottom direction Z of the toilet 10. These directional axes configure an orthogonal coordinate system, and correspond to a direction of a seated person who sits on a toilet seat (not shown) attached to the toilet 10 in a normal posture. The front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y are horizontal directions, and the top-bottom direction Z is a vertical direction.

In addition to the toilet 10, the toilet device 12 includes a flush water supply device 14 which supplies flush water to the toilet 10. The flush water supply device 14 is structured using, for example, a water storage tank, but may be structured using a flush valve or the like.

The toilet 10 according to the first embodiment is a Western-style toilet. The toilet 10 according to some embodiments is made of a ceramic material, but may be made of a material such as a resin. The toilet 10 includes a toilet bowl part 16 and a toilet bowl drain 18 connected to a bottom part of the toilet bowl part 16. An upper surface part of the toilet 10 is formed with a recessed part 20 in which a part of a mechanical device (not shown) such as a private part washing device is accommodated. The toilet bowl drain 18 is a passage through which waste or water is discharged from an inside of the toilet bowl part 16 to a sewage side water passage.

The toilet bowl part 16 has a bowl-like waste receiving surface 24 for receiving waste, and a rim part 26 forming an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part 16. An inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is provided in the range from an upper end inner edge part 16 a of the toilet bowl part 16 to an outer peripheral end part 24 a of the waste receiving surface 24. Hereinafter, a circumferential direction and a radial direction of the toilet bowl part 16 will be described. The term “circumferential direction” is a direction going around a center Cp of the upper end inner edge part 16 a of the toilet bowl part 16 in plan view, and the term “radial direction” is a direction orthogonal to a vertical line passing through the center Cp.

The toilet bowl part 16 has a water reservoir part 28 recessed downward from a lower end edge part 24 b of the waste receiving surface 24. The water reservoir part 28 forms the bottom part of the toilet bowl part 16 and has a bottomed shape. An inlet 18 a of the toilet bowl drain 18 is opened at the bottom part of the water reservoir part 28. A part of sealing water (not shown) is stored in the water reservoir part 28.

FIG. 4 is another plan view of the toilet 10. The inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 has a front region 30F including a front end, a rear region 30B including a rear end, and left and right intermediate regions 30S connecting between the front region 30F and the rear region 30B, in plan view. The front region 30F is formed in a curved surface shape having a radius of curvature in a first range R1 in plan view, and the rear region 30B is formed in a curved surface shape having a radius of curvature in a second range R2. The intermediate region 30S is formed in a curved surface shape having a radius of curvature in a third range R3 which is larger than the radius of curvature of the first range R1 and the second range R2. For example, the first range R1 is 70 mm to 120 mm, the second range R2 is 100 mm to 130 mm, and the third range R3 is 200 mm to 530 mm. In this way, an inner circumferential surface of the rim part 26 is formed in an oval shape in which the radius of curvature of the front region 30F and the rear region 30B is smaller than that of the intermediate region 30S, in plan view. The first range R1 and the second range R2 may have the radius of curvature smaller than that in the third range R3, and the magnitude relation between the first range R1 and the second range R2 does not matter.

Hereinafter, the toilet bowl part 16 is divided into four parts and described. Specifically, the toilet bowl part 16 is divided into a pair of side surface parts 22R and 22L provided on left and right sides of the toilet bowl part 16, a front surface part 22F provided on a front side of the toilet bowl part 16, and a rear surface part 22B provided on a rear side of the toilet bowl part 16. The pair of side surface parts 22R and 22L includes a right surface part 22R on the right side which is one side of the left and right sides and a left surface part 22L on the left side which is the other side of the left and right sides.

The toilet bowl part is divided by the following equal dividing lines Lb1 to Lb3 and left-right center line Lc. The equal dividing lines Lb1 to Lb3 include a front equal dividing line Lb1 on the foremost side and a rear equal dividing line Lb3 on the rearmost side among the three equal dividing lines Lb1 to Lb3 which quadrisect a maximum front and rear dimension La of the inner surface portion of the toilet bowl part 16 in plan view. The left-right center line Lc is an equal dividing line which bisects the maximum left and right dimension of the inner surface portion of the toilet bowl part 16 in plan view. The equal dividing lines Lb1 to Lb3 extend along the left-right direction Y, and the left-right center line Lc extends along the front-rear direction X.

The pair of side surface parts 22R and 22L is between the front equal dividing line Lb1 and the rear equal dividing line Lb3, the front surface part 22F is on the front side with respect to the front equal dividing line Lb1, and the rear surface part 22B is on the rear side with respect to the rear equal dividing line Lb3. The right surface part 22R is on the right side with respect to the left-right center line Lc, and the left surface part 22L is on the left side with respect to the left-right center line Lc.

Refer to FIGS. 1 to 3. The inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is formed with an opening part 32. In the first embodiment, the opening part 32 is formed only on one side surface part (right surface part 22R) out of left and right sides of the toilet bowl part 16, and is not formed on the other side surface part (left surface part 22L) out of the left and right sides, and is not formed on the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B.

The inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is, on one surface part 22X out of the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16, provided with a continuous surface 40 continued from the upper end inner edge part 16 a of the toilet bowl part 16 to the outer peripheral end part 24 a of the waste receiving surface 24 without an overhang surface being formed. The overhang surface in the present specification is a downward surface having an inclination angle of 60° or more with respect to a vertical surface, and a surface formed at a location different from a water discharge port 44 (described later). Here, the term “one surface part 22X” is the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16 in some embodiments. The one surface part 22X is provided with the front end part of the toilet bowl part 16 which is one end part 16 b of the toilet bowl part 16 in the front-rear direction X.

In some embodiments, the continuous surface 40 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 in the range over the entire circumference of the toilet bowl part 16, at locations other than the opening part 32. Specifically, the continuous surface 40 is provided in the entire circumferential range of the front surface part 22F, the rear surface part 22B, and the left surface part 22L of the toilet bowl part 16. The continuous surface 40 is provided in the entire circumferential range of the right surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16, at locations other than the opening part 32.

In some embodiments, the continuous surface 40 is provided to gradually extend radially inward as it goes downward from the upper end inner edge part 16 a of the toilet bowl part 16. As a result, as compared with the case where a location extending radially outward is provided while the continuous surface 40 goes downward, waste attached to the continuous surface 40 can be easily grasped visually, and a cleaning operation can be facilitated. From the same point of view, the continuous surface 40 may be provided to extend substantially vertically downward from the upper end inner edge part 16 a of the toilet bowl part 16. In addition to this, the continuous surface 40 may be a combination of a portion extending radially inward as it goes downward and a portion extending substantially vertically downward. The term “substantial” as used in the present specification is not limited to the case where the conditions mentioned are strictly satisfied, but also includes the case where a position is shifted by an error such as a dimensional tolerance or a manufacturing error.

The toilet 10 includes a water discharge part 42 which forms a swirling flow Fa (see FIG. 9 described later) by discharging flush water into the toilet bowl part 16. The water discharge part 42 discharges the flush water into the toilet bowl part 16 through the opening part 32 of the toilet bowl part 16. In the first embodiment, the water discharge part 42 is provided on a deep side of the opening part 32, and is provided at a position not exposed to the outside in plan view. The swirling flow Fa passes through one end part 16 b of the toilet bowl part 16 in the front-rear direction X provided on one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F) of the toilet bowl part 16, and then passes through the other end part 16 c of the toilet bowl part 16 provided on the other surface part of the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16. In some embodiments, the other end part 16 c is the rear end part of the toilet bowl part 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet 10 includes a jet water discharge port 41 which discharges flush water toward a downstream side in the toilet bowl drain 18. In some embodiments, the jet water discharge port 41 is formed at a tip part of a jet nozzle 43 attached to the toilet 10.

FIG. 5 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along C-C in FIG. 6 described later, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along D-D in FIG. 6. The water discharge part 42 has a water discharge port 44 which is opened to the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 and a water flow path 46 through which flush water supplied from the flush water supply device 14 is guided to the water discharge port 44. In some embodiments, the water discharge port 44 is opened forward, and discharges flush water toward one side in a circumferential direction (counterclockwise direction in the paper of FIGS. 5A and 5B) which becomes a swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa in the toilet bowl part 16.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2. FIGS. 7A to 7C each are cross-sectional views taken along I-I, II-II, and III-III in FIG. 6. FIGS. 8A and 8B each are cross-sectional views taken along IV-IV and V-V in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the toilet 10 is provided with a water conduit 48 through which the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 is guided to the swirling direction Dt. The water conduit 48 is configured by a shelf surface 50 receiving flush water and the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26. The shelf surface 50 is provided on an outer peripheral side portion of the waste receiving surface 24. In some embodiments, the shelf surface 50 includes a protruding curved surface part 52 forming the inner peripheral end part of the shelf surface 50, a flat surface part 54 provided on the outer peripheral side than the protruding curved surface part 52, and a curved surface part 58 constituting the outer peripheral end part of the shelf surface 50. The shelf surface 50 is connected to a recessed curved surface part 56 of the waste receiving surface 24 positioned below the shelf surface 50 via the protruding curved surface part 52. A vertical cross section of the flat surface part 54 is formed to have a gentler gradient than the upper end part of the recessed curved surface part 56.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the shelf surface 50 is formed to be continuous from the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 to the front surface part 22F via each of the pair of side surface parts 22R and 22L. In some embodiments, the shelf surface 50 is formed over the entire circumferential range of the pair of side surface parts 22R and 22L and the rear surface part 22B, and is formed in a partial circumferential range of the front surface part 22F.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a part of the water conduit 48 is formed to extend in the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa from the water discharge port 44 and to pass through the opening part 32 in plan view. In some embodiments, the shelf surface 50 is formed to be smoothly connected to a bottom surface of the water discharge port 44.

The curved surface part 58 configures a lower inner corner of the water conduit 48 and has a recessed curved surface shape. The curved surface part 58 has a first fixed section 60, an increase section 62, a second fixed section 64, a decrease section 66, and a third fixed section 68 in order toward the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa. The curved surface part 58 is provided so that the radius of curvature in the vertical cross section changes smoothly in the range from the first fixed section 60 to the third fixed section 68. This means that a stepped part of which radius of curvature changes rapidly in this range is not formed.

The first fixed section 60 is formed to be connected to the water discharge port 44 and have a substantially constant radius of curvature as a first radius of curvature Ra toward the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa.

The increase section 62 is formed to be connected to the first fixed section 60 and continuously increase the radius of curvature from the first radius of curvature Ra to a second radius of curvature Rb toward the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa.

The second fixed section 64 is formed to connect between the increase section 62 and the decrease section 66 and have a substantially constant radius of curvature as the second radius of curvature Rb toward the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa.

The decrease section 66 is formed to be connected to the third fixed section 68, and continuously decrease the radius of curvature from the second radius of curvature Rb to a third radius of curvature Rc toward the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa.

The third fixed section 68 is formed to have a substantially constant radius of curvature as the third radius of curvature Rc toward the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa. The third radius of curvature Rc is set to be substantially the same radius of curvature as that of a part 58 a (see FIG. 1) of the curved surface part 58 provided at a bilateral symmetrical position with respect to the third fixed section 68.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the increase section 62 configures an upper guide part 72 which is provided on the flush water path 70 (see FIG. 1) leading from the water discharge part 42 to one end part 16 b (front end part) of the toilet bowl part 16 in the front-rear direction X. The flush water path 70 is a path through which the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 runs along the inside of the toilet bowl part 16. As will be described in more detail below, the upper guide part 72 guides at least a part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 upward.

The increase section 62 configures an inner guide part 74 provided on the side surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16. As will be described later in detail, the inner guide part 74 guides a part of the flush water colliding with the inner guide part 74 radially inward.

In some embodiments, at least a part of the increase section 62 is provided at a position intersecting a center line Ld of the water discharge port 44 extending from the water discharge port 44, and provided on a deep side of the opening part 32 and an outer side of the water discharge port 44 in plan view. In some embodiments, the increase section 62 is provided on the side surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16 adjacent to an opposite side (clockwise direction) in a circumferential direction to the swirling direction Dt with respect to one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F) of the toilet bowl part 16, out of the side surface parts 22R and 22L of the toilet bowl part 16. The increase section 62 is provided near the water discharge port 44 on a downstream side than the water discharge port 44 of the water discharge part 42. The term “near” means a range within 20 mm from the water discharge port 44. The conditions described herein are equally applicable to the upper guide part 72 or the inner guide part 74 described above.

A washing method by the toilet device 12 will be described. The toilet device 12 according to some embodiments discharges waste by a wash-out type washing method for flushing out waste using a head of water. When a predetermined washing start condition is satisfied, the flush water supply device 14 supplies a predetermined amount of flush water to the water discharge part 42. For example, the washing start condition is that the flush water supply device 14 receives a washing start operation by an operation member such as a lever or electric devices such as a remote controller or a smart phone.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a flow direction of flush water flows. In FIG. 9, the flow direction of the flush water are indicated by an arrow. The water discharge part 42 discharges the flush water supplied from the flush water supply device 14 into the toilet bowl part 16. The flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 forms the swirling flow Fa swirling in the toilet bowl part 16. The swirling flow Fa is formed to pass through the front surface part 22F, the left surface part 22L, and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16, and then to run forward the right surface part 22R. The swirling flow Fa is formed to run along the shelf surface 50 when passing through the side surface parts 22R and 22L and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16. The swirling flow Fa is formed as a main stream. In the present specification, the term “main stream” is a streak-like flow which flows in a state where a part of the flush water is partially collected. A part of the flush water forming the swirling flow Fa is gradually divided into a split flow Fb on the way of swirling in the toilet bowl part 16, and the split flow Fb flows down toward the bottom side of the toilet bowl part 16.

Water flows Fb and Fg (water flow Fg will be described later) toward the bottom side of the toilet bowl part 16 is a flow which pushes waste into the inlet 18 a of the toilet bowl drain 18. The waste in the toilet bowl part 16 is discharged through the toilet bowl drain 18 by such water flows Fb and Fg.

Refer to FIG. 2. The jet water discharge port 41 discharges the flush water supplied from the flush water supply device 14 to a downstream side in the toilet bowl drain 18. In some embodiments, the jet water discharge port 41 discharges the flush water while the flush water flows toward the downstream side in the toilet bowl drain 18. The flush water discharged from the jet water discharge port 41 amplifies a force of water flow toward the downstream side in the toilet bowl drain 18.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views schematically showing flows of flush water. FIG. 10 is a view of the toilet 10 as viewed from the rear on the upper left side, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the toilet 10 as viewed from the left side. In FIG. 10, line Lc′ is added to a location through which the left-right center line Lc in FIG. 1 passes for the convenience of description. Further, in FIG. 10, line Le is attached to an upper side of a region which flush water reaches while the flush water runs along the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26.

At least a part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 is guided upward by colliding with the upper guide part 72 (increase section 62 of the water conduit 48) to form a first induction flow Fc. In this way, the upper guide part 72 (increase section 62 of the water conduit 48) guides at least a part of the flush water upward without using a centrifugal force. The first induction flow Fc is formed as a part of the above-described swirling flow Fa. In some embodiments, the first induction flow Fc is guided by the increase section 62, and thus jumping up to be away from the waste receiving surface 24. The first induction flow Fc is formed to flow upward and then flow downward by its own weight while running in the swirling direction Dt along the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26, on the above-described flush water path 70. In some embodiments, the first induction flow Fc is formed to reach a highest point Ph outside the opening part 32 on the above-described flush water path 70.

A part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 is diffused by colliding with the inner guide part 74 (increase section 62 of the water conduit 48) to be guided radially inward of the toilet bowl part 16, thereby forming a second induction flow Fd. The second induction flow Fd is formed to flow down from the shelf surface 50 to the recessed curved surface part 56. The second induction flow Fd joins the swirling flow Fa formed in the toilet bowl part 16. A junction point Sa (see also FIG. 9) is radially inward than the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 in plan view, that is, a location without an overhang surface.

A part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 forms a straight flow Fe which goes straight without being guided upward or radially inward by the increase section 62 (upper guide part 72 and inner guide part 74) of the water conduit 48. The straight flow Fe is formed as a part of the above-described swirling flow Fa. In some embodiments, a part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 forms the first induction flow Fc, another part of flush water forms the second induction flow Fd, and the remaining flush water forms the straight flow Fe. The straight flow Fe runs in the swirling direction Dt along the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 on the above-described flush water path 70.

The first induction flow Fc and the straight flow Fe flows toward the one end part 16 b (front end part) of the toilet bowl part 16 on the above-described flush water path 70. The straight flow Fe is going to flow upward by being applied with an upward velocity component under the centrifugal force while flowing through the path. While flowing downward, the first induction flow Fc blocks the upward flow by joining the other water flow (straight flow Fe) which is going to flow upward. The first induction flow Fc joins the straight flow Fe to cancel at least a part of the upward velocity component of the straight flow Fe. At least part of these junction point will be on the above-described flush water path 70. The first induction flow Fc joins the other water flow (straight flow Fe) and flows upward by a centrifugal force while running along one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F) together with the other joined water flow. Thereafter, in the swirling direction Dt than the one end part 16 b of the front-rear direction X of the toilet bowl part 16, the first induction flow Fc flows downward together with the other joined water flow to be received by the shelf surface 50, and runs in the swirling direction Dt along the shelf surface 50.

The flush water forming the first induction flow Fc and the straight flow Fe swirls in the toilet bowl part 16 as a part of the above-described swirling flow Fa, and then flows forward the right surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16. The above-described second induction flow Fd joins the swirling flow Fa such as this one which flows in front of the right surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16. In this way, the swirling flow Fa joining the second induction flow Fd is formed by a part of the flush water which flows without being guided radially inward by the inner guide part 74. The second induction flow Fd which has joined the swirling flow Fa forms the water flow Fg flowing down toward the water reservoir part 28 of the toilet bowl part 16 while passing through a part 56 a of the recessed curved surface part 56 below the shelf surface 50 of the waste receiving surface 24, in the one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F) of the toilet bowl part 16 among of the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 (see also FIG. 9).

The toilet 10 according to some embodiments is structured to form the flow of the flush water mentioned above. In order to configure like this, a shape of the toilet bowl part 16 of the toilet 10, a flow rate of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42, a direction in which the flush water is discharged and the like are determined. The flow rate of the flush water is determined, for example, according to the cross-sectional shape of the water discharge port 44 or the water flow path 46 of the water discharge part 42. In some embodiments, the term “the shape of the toilet bowl part 16” includes the increase section 62 (upper guide part 72 and inner guide part 74) of the above-described water conduit 48.

The effects of the toilet 10 will be described. The toilet 10 includes the upper guide part 72 for guiding the flush water upward. Therefore, it is possible to form the first induction flow Fc which is guided upward by the upper guide part 72 and then directed downward by the weight of the first induction flow Fc on the above-described flush water path 70. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the upward velocity component of the water flow which flows along one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F) of the toilet bowl part 16 as compared with the case where such a first induction flow Fc is not formed. Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit the flush water from jumping out of the one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F).

The first induction flow Fc joins the other water flow (straight flow Fe) while flowing downward and flows upward by the centrifugal force while running along the one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F) together with the other water flow. Therefore, the washing range in one surface part 22X can be more expanded in the top-bottom direction, as compared with the case where the first induction flow Fc does not flow upward while joining the other water flow.

The flush water guided by the inner guide part 74 joins the swirling flow Fa formed in the toilet bowl part 16 radially inward than the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 in plan view. Therefore, the flush water and the swirling flow Fa guided by the inner guide part 74 are joined to amplify the force of water, and thus the washing ability of the toilet bowl part 16 can be increased.

Since the inner guide part 74 guides a part of the flush water radially inward, as compared with the case where the whole flush water is guided, it is possible to reduce the flow rate of the flush water (second induction flow Fd) which joins the swirling flow Fa and inhibit splash generated due to joining with the swirling flow Fa. Therefore, even if the flush water and the swirling flow Fa guided by the inner guide part 74 join each other at a location where the overhang surface is not formed, it is possible to inhibit the splash from jumping out of the toilet bowl part 16.

The swirling flow Fa joining the second induction flow Fd formed by the inner guide part 74 is formed by a part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42. Therefore, it may not be necessary to provide another water discharge part 42 to form the swirling flow Fa. As a result, the number of water discharge parts 42 required for the toilet 10 can be reduced, and good design performance can be obtained by the reduced number of the discharge parts 42.

The inner guide part 74 is provided near the water discharge port 44 on the downstream side than the water discharge port 44 of the water discharge part 42. Therefore, compared with the case where the inner guide part 74 is provided at a location farther from the water discharge port 44 on the downstream side than the water discharge port 44, the junction point of the second induction flow Fd and the swirling flow Fa can be closer to the water discharge port 44, so a swirling distance of the swirling flow Fa in the toilet bowl part 16 can be shortened until the swirling flow Fa joins the second induction flow Fd. If the flow rate of the flush water supplied into the toilet bowl part 16 is reduced, as the junction point of the second induction flow Fd and the swirling flow Fa goes away from the water discharge port 44 to the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa, the force of water of the swirling flow Fa is weak and a region which cannot be sufficiently washed by the flush water tends to be generated. In this regard, according to some embodiments, even when the flow rate of the flush water is reduced, the inside of the toilet bowl part 16 can be washed extensively.

(A) The water discharge part 42 discharges the flush water into the toilet bowl part 16 through the opening part 32 formed on the side surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16. Therefore, compared with the case where the opening part 32 is formed in the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16, when the toilet 10 is viewed from the front side, the opening part 32 is difficult to be visible and the good design performance can be obtained. In addition, compared with the case where the opening part 32 is formed in the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16, a human hand easily reaches the opening part 32 from the front side of the toilet 10 and the good cleanability can be obtained.

In order to inhibit the flush water from jumping out, it is considered to form the opening part 32 in the front surface part 22F or the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16. As a result, the swirling distance of the swirling flow Fa from the water discharge part 42 to the one surface part 22A can be long, and the jumping out of the flush water can be inhibited by making the force of water of the swirling flow Fa weak. According to some embodiments, the jumping out of the flush water can be inhibited without adopting such means.

The inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is provided with a continuous surface 40 without the overhang surface on one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F). Therefore, even if there is no overhang surface on the one surface part 22X, it is possible to inhibit the flush water running along the continuous surface 40 from jumping out.

The inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is provided with the continuous surface 40 in the range over the entire circumference of the toilet bowl part 16, at locations other than the opening part 32. Therefore, since there is no overhang surface, in the wide circumferential range of the toilet bowl part 16, that is difficult for a human hand to reach in wiping, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is easily wiped.

The upper guide part 72 is configured by the increase section 62 of the curved surface part 58 of the water conduit 48. Therefore, the upper guide part 72 can be configured without convex and concave in the wide range of the bottom surface (shelf surface 50) of the water conduit 48, and the good design performance can be obtained.

The inner guide part 74 is configured by the increase section 62 of the curved surface part 58 of the water conduit 48. Therefore, the inner guide part 74 can be configured without convex and concave in the wide range of the bottom surface (shelf surface 50) of the water conduit 48, and the good design performance can be obtained.

The curved surface part 58 has the decrease section 66 provided in the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa than the increase section 62. Therefore, the other section (third fixed section 68), which is provided in the swirling direction Dt than the increase section 62 and has a smaller radius of curvature than the maximum curvature of radius of the increase section 62, and the increase section 62 are smoothly connected to each other via the decrease section 66. As a result, when the increase section 62 is in the curved surface part 58 of the water conduit 48, no conspicuous stepped surface is formed between the increase section 62 and the other section, and the good design performance can be obtained.

The curved surface part 58 has the second fixed section 64 which connects between the increase section 62 and the decrease section 66. As a result, no conspicuous protruding portions are formed due to the increase section 62 and the decrease section 66, and the good design performance can be obtained.

Next, other characteristics will be described. Refer to FIG. 4. The inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is provided with a first curvature change point 30 a which is a boundary between the front region 30F and the intermediate region 30S, and a second curvature change point 30 b which is a boundary between the rear region 30B and the intermediate region 30S.

Refer to FIG. 10. A highest point Ph of the first induction flow Fc is preferably provided near the curvature change point 30 a which is at a boundary between the intermediate region 30S and a region (front region 30F) provided on one surface portion 22X (front surface portion 22F) of the toilet bowl part 16 out of the front region 30F and the rear region 30B of the rim part 26. More specifically, the highest point Ph of the first induction flow Fc is preferably within the range of 30 mm from the curvature change point 30 a to the upstream side (in this example, the rear side in the front-rear direction X) in the front-rear direction X and 15 mm from the curvature change point 30 a to the downstream side (in this example, the front side in front-rear direction X) in the front-rear direction X, in plan view. This is set based on the experimental knowledge of the inventors. By doing so, the first induction flow Fc tends to flow downward before it begins to be applied with a large centrifugal force along the region 30F having a small radius of curvature. As a result, the first induction flow Fc tends to join the straight flow Fe with a strong downward force. Accordingly, when the flush water forming the straight flow Fe and the first induction flow Fc flows on the one surface part 22X (front surface part 22F) of the toilet bowl part 16, the jumping out of the flush water is effectively inhibited.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, in the toilet bowl part 16, the overhang surface 76 is provided on the deep side of the opening part 32 and on the outer side of the water discharge port 44. The overhang surface 76 forms an upper edge part of the opening part 32. The overhang surface 76 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 so as to extend radially inward on the way to the upper side thereof. The overhang surface 76 is provided on the above-described flush water path 70 in a part of the range from the water discharge part 42 toward the swirling direction Dt. In some embodiments, in the toilet bowl part 16, the overhang surface 76 is provided only on the deep side of the opening part 32, and the overhang surface 76 is not provided on the outer side thereof.

The overhang surface 76 is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane so as to continuously extend upwardly from the water discharge part 42 as it goes toward the swirling direction Dt. The overhang surface 76 is formed so that a diameter dimension decreases as it goes from the water discharge part 42 toward the swirling direction Dt. The overhang surface 76 is provided at a position in contact with the above-described first induction flow Fc, which is formed by the upper guide part 72, from above.

In this way, even if the supply amount of flush water from the flush water supply device 14 sharply increases and the upper guide part 72 makes the flush water greatly rising, the overhang surface 76 can regulate the rising of the flush water. As a result, the flush water can be prevented from jumping out of the toilet bowl part 16. In addition, there is also an advantage that the upper guide part 72 can wash the overhang surface 76 by the flush water guided upward.

In some embodiments, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is provided with an upper surface part 78 which forms the opening part 32 and is provided above the opening part 32. The upper surface part 78 is continued from the upper end inner edge part 16 a of the toilet bowl part 16 to the upper edge part of the opening part 32 without being formed with the overhang surface. The upper surface part 78 is smoothly connected to a portion 26 a of the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 adjacent to both sides of the upper surface part 78 in the circumferential direction. The term “smoothly connected” means that the above-described two objects are connected to each other without convex and concave being formed between the two objects.

Refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B. The bottom surface 42 a of the water discharge part 42 is provided with a gradient which is a downward slope as it goes toward the water discharge port 44 in a range from the deep side of the water discharge port 44 to the water discharge port 44. By doing so, the residual water is hardly stored inside the water discharge part 42, and good hygienic performance can be obtained.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along E-E of FIG. 1, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along F-F of FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, 12, and 13, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 has a first surface region 90 provided on the side surface parts 22R and 22L of the toilet bowl part 16, and second surface regions 92 and 94 provided on at least one of the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16. An inclination angle θb with respect to a vertical surface Pv of the second surface regions 92 and 94 is gentler than an inclination angle θa with respect to the vertical surface Pv of the first surface region 90. The inclination angle with respect to the vertical surface Pv is an inclination angle at an acute angle with respect to the vertical surface Pv on the vertical section surface through the center Cp of the toilet bowl part 16. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the first surface region 90 is referred to as a steep slope region 90, and the second surface regions 92 and 94 are referred to as gentle slope regions 92 and 94.

The gentle slope regions 92 and 94 include a front gentle slope region 92 (one gentle slope region) provided on the front surface part 22F which is the one surface part 22X out of the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 and a rear gentle slope region 94 (the other gentle slope region) provided on the rear surface part 22B which is the other surface part out of the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16.

The steep slope region 90 is provided in the circumferential range including the intermediate part of the toilet bowl part 16 in the front-rear direction X. The front gentle slope region 92 is provided in the circumferential range including one end part 16 b (front end part) of the toilet bowl part 16, and the rear gentle slope region 94 is provided in the circumferential range including the other end part 16 c (rear end portion) of the toilet bowl part 16 in the front-rear direction X. The front gentle slope region 92 is provided on at least most of the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16, and the rear gentle slope region 94 is provided on at least most of the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16. In some embodiments, the front gentle slope region 92 is provided in the entire area of the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16.

A front boundary part 96 which is the boundary between the steep slope region 90 and the front gentle slope region 92 is formed at any one of the front surface part 22F and the side surface parts 22R and 22L of the toilet bowl part 16 at end part closer to their boundaries in side view. In some embodiments, the front boundary part 96 is provided at an end part of the side surface parts 22R and 22L closer to the front surface part 22F.

A rear boundary part 98 which is the boundary between the steep slope region 90 and the rear gentle slope region 94 is formed at any one of the side surface parts 22R and 22L and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 at end part closer to their boundaries in side view. In some embodiments, the rear boundary part 98 is provided at the end parts of the rear surface part 22B near the side surface parts 22R and 22L.

The steep slope region 90 is formed with the above-described opening part 32. Specifically, the steep slope region 90 provided in the right surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16 is formed with the opening part 32, and the steep slope region 90 provided in the left surface part 22L of the toilet bowl part 16 is not formed with the opening part 32. Further, the gentle slope regions 92 and 94 are not formed with the opening part 32.

As shown in FIG. 12, the front gentle slope region 92 has a first most inclined part 92 a provided at one end part 16 b (front end part) of the toilet bowl part 16 and a first angle change part 92 b provided between the first most inclined part 92 a and the front boundary part 96. The first most inclined part 92 a has the largest inclination angle in the front gentle slope region 92, and a substantially constant inclination angle in the entire circumferential range thereof. The first angle change part 92 b continuously changes the inclination angle to approach the inclination angle of the first most inclined part 92 a as it approaches one end part 16 b (front end part) of the toilet bowl part 16 from the front boundary part 96.

As shown in FIG. 13, the rear gentle slope region 94 has a second most inclined part 94 a provided at the other end part 16 c (rear end part) of the toilet bowl part 16 and a second angle change part 94 b provided between the second most inclined part 94 a and the rear boundary part 98. The second most inclined part 94 a has the largest inclination angle in the rear gentle slope region 94, and a substantially constant inclination angle in the entire circumferential range thereof. The second angle change part 94 b continuously changes the inclination angle to approach the inclination angle of the second most inclined part 94 a as it approaches the other end part 16 c (rear end part) of the toilet bowl part 16 from the rear boundary part 98.

The above-described continuous surface 40 is provided in the steep slope region 90 and the gentle slope regions 92 and 94. The steep slope region 90 provided in the right surface part 22R is provided with the continuous surface 40 in the entire circumferential range thereof, at locations other than the opening part 32. The steep slope region 90 provided in the left surface part 22L and the gentle slope regions 92 and 94 are provided with the continuous surface 40 in the entire circumferential range thereof.

In some embodiments, the steep slope region 90 configures the above-described intermediate region 30S, the front gentle slope region 92 configures the front region 30F, and the rear gentle slope region 94 configures the rear region 30R. The steep slope region 90 has a curved surface shape having a radius of curvature within the third range R3 in plan view, and the gentle slope regions 92 and 94 have a curved surface shape having a radius of curvature smaller than that within the third range R3.

The effects of the above ideas will be described. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a centrifugal force Fa acting on a flush water W. In FIG. 14, the centrifugal force Fa is divided into a first component force Fa1 along a normal direction of the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 and a second component force Fa2 along an in-plane direction of the inner peripheral surface thereof.

The centrifugal force Fa acts on the flush water as the flush water flows along the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26. A component (=Fa×sin θ) of the second component force Fa2 of the centrifugal force Fa increases as the inclination angle θ of the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 increases. This means that as the inclination angle θ of the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 increases, the flush water is applied with the centrifugal force Fa to easily reach a wide upper and lower range. Here, the upper and lower range means the range in the top-bottom direction Z.

In some embodiments, the Inclination angle θb of the gentle slope regions 92 and 94 is gentler than the inclination angle θa of the steep slope region 90. Therefore, as compared with the case where the inclination angle of the gentle slope regions 92 and 94 is the same as that of the steep slope region 90, the flush water applied with the centrifugal force in the gentle slope regions 92 and 94 provided in the front surface part 22F or the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 tends to reach the wide upper and lower range. As a result, the washing range on the continuous surfaces 40 of the gentle slope regions 92 and 94 can be expanded in the top-bottom direction.

In order to expand the washing range in the top-bottom direction in this way, in addition to this, means for reducing the curvature radius of the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 in plan view can be considered. According to some embodiments, there is an advantage that the contour of the toilet bowl part 16 does not need to be largely changed as compared with the case where such means are used.

In particular, the washing range on the continuous surface 40 provided on the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16, which is easily soiled by urine, can be expanded. In addition, the washing range on the continuous surface 40 provided on the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 that is difficult to wipe can be expanded.

The water discharge part 42 discharges the flush water into the toilet bowl part 16 through the opening part 32 formed in the steep slope region 90. Therefore, in plan view, the opening part 32 is less noticeable than forming the opening part 32 in the gentle slope regions 92 and 94, and the good design performance can be obtained. In addition to this, the effect of (A) described above can also be obtained.

Next, other characteristics will be described. Refer to FIG. 4. The shelf surface 50 is connected to the front gentle slope region 92 in the swirling direction Dt than the front end or the rear end of the toilet bowl part 16 provided on the front surface part 22F (one surface part 22X) or the rear surface part 22B (the other surface part) of the toilet bowl part 16. Specifically, the shelf surface 50 is connected to the front gentle slope region 92 in the swirling direction Dt than the front end of the toilet bowl part 16 and is connected to the rear gentle slope region 94 in the swirling direction Dt than the rear end of the toilet bowl part 16.

As a result, the flush water which rises by being applied with a centrifugal force while passing through the front gentle slope region 92 or the rear gentle slope region 94 and then falls tends to be received by the shelf surface 50. As a result, a lot of flush water passing through the front gentle slope region 92 or the rear gentle slope region 94 can reach far through the water conduit 48.

The shelf surface 50 is connected to the front gentle slope region 92 on the opposite side of the swirling direction Dt of the swirling flow Fa than the front end of the toilet bowl part 16, in the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16. In addition, the shelf surface 50 is connected to the rear gentle slope region 94 over the entire area in the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16.

A part of the recessed curved surface part 56 of the waste receiving surface 24 is provided on the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16. The recessed curved surface part 56 continues from the lower end edge part 24 b of the waste receiving surface 24 to the outer peripheral end part 24 a of the waste receiving surface 24 at least at a left-right central part 16 d of the toilet bowl part 16. The recessed curved surface part 56 is connected to the front gentle slope region 92 without passing through the shelf surfaces 50 at the left-right central part 16 d of the toilet bowl part 16. It is also understood that the shelf surface 50 is not provided on the left-right central part 16 d of the toilet bowl part 16 at the front surface part 22 F of the toilet bowl part 16.

If an inner peripheral end part 50 a (protruding curved surface part 52) of the protruding curved shelf surface 50 is provided on the left-right central part 16 d at the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16, splash tends to be generated when urine hits the inner peripheral end part 50 a thereof. In this respect, according to the first embodiment, since the inner peripheral end part of the protruding curved shelf surface 50 is not provided on the left-right central part 16 d, it is possible to inhibit the splash of urine.

Refer to FIG. 1. The toilet bowl part 16 is provided at a substantially bilateral symmetrical position in the range in which the above-described opening part 32 and the deep side portion of the opening part 32 is removed. It is also understood that the waste receiving surface 24 is provided at a substantially bilateral symmetrical position in the range from the inner peripheral end part 50 a of the shelf surface 50 to the lower end edge part 24 b of the waste receiving surface 24. In addition, it is understood that the inner peripheral end part 50 a of the shelf surface 50 is provided at a substantially bilateral symmetrical position. In addition, it is also understood that the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 is provided at a substantially bilateral symmetrical position in the range in which the above-described opening part 32 is removed.

It is easy to visually grasp a location which becomes an edge in the toilet 10. In some embodiments, the inner peripheral end part 50 a of the shelf surface 50 which becomes such an edge is provided at a bilateral symmetrical position. Therefore, when the shape of the shelf surface 50 or the like is a bilateral asymmetry due to a manufacturing error or the like, the bilateral asymmetry is easy to visually identify and an inspection work can be facilitated.

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view showing a part of a toilet 10 according to some embodiments. In the toilet 10 according to some embodiments, the inclination angles θb of the front gentle slope region 92 and the rear gentle slope region 94 are substantially the same. In the toilet 10 according to some embodiments, inclination angles θb of a front gentle slope region 92 and a rear gentle slope region 94 are different. Specifically, the rear gentle slope region 94 has a gentler inclination angle θb with respect to the vertical surface than the front gentle slope region 92. In some embodiments, the inclination angle over the entire area of a second most inclined part 94 a of the rear gentle slope region 94 is gentler than an inclination angle of a first most inclined part 92 a of the front gentle slope region 92. The reason will be described.

As described above, a swirling flow formed by flush water discharged from a water discharge part 42 passes through the front gentle slope region 92 (one side second surface region) and then passes through the rear gentle slope region 94 (the other side second surface region). For this reason, a force of water of the swirling flow when the swirling flow passes through the rear gentle slope region 94 becomes weaker than that when the swirling flow passes through the front gentle slope region 92, and the swirling flow is difficult to reach an wide upper and lower range by being applied with a centrifugal force.

(B) In this respect, according to some embodiments, even when a swirling flow having a weak force of water passes through the rear gentle slope region 94, the flush water can easily reach the wide upper and lower range of the rear gentle slope region 94. In particular, in order to achieve such a purpose, it is possible to prevent the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 from having a large flow rate, and it is possible to avoid the situation where the flush water jumps out of the front gentle slope region 92 due to the large flow rate of the flush water.

Next, modifications of each component will be described.

A toilet device 12 may be washed by another washing method other than a wash-off type. The washing method is, for example, a siphon method and the like.

An opening part 32 of a toilet bowl part 16 may be formed on a front surface part 22F or a rear surface part 22B in addition to side surface parts 22R and 22L. In addition to a steep slope region 90, the opening part 32 may be formed in the gentle slope regions 92 and 94. A plurality of opening parts 32 may be formed in the toilet bowl part 16.

A shelf surface 50 and the like of the toilet bowl part 16 may not be provided at a substantially bilateral symmetrical position.

An overhang surface may be formed on the entire circumference of an inner peripheral surface of a rim part 26. The inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 may have substantially the same inclination angle at a portion over the entire circumference of the toilet bowl part 16.

A continuous surface 40 may be without an overhang surface as described above. If this condition is satisfied, the continuous surface 40 may be provided to gradually extend radially outward at least in part as it goes downward from an upper end inner edge part 16 a of the toilet bowl part 16.

Although a water discharge port 44 of the water discharge part 42 formed on a deep side of the opening part 32 of the rim part 26 has been described as an example, the opening part 32 may constitute the water discharge port 44. In this case, an overhang surface 76 may not be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26. A swirling direction Dt of a swirling flow Fa formed by the water discharge part 42 may be clockwise.

One end part 16 b of the toilet bowl part 16 in a front-rear direction X through which the swirling flow Fa formed by the water discharge part 42 first passes may be a rear end part of the toilet bowl part 16, and the other end part 16 c of the toilet bowl part 16 through which the swirling flow Fa later passes may be a front end part of the toilet bowl part 16. In this case, one surface part 22X on which the one end part 16 b of the toilet bowl part 16 is provided is a rear surface part 22B of toilet bowl 16, and the other surface part on which the other end part 16 c of the toilet bowl part 16 is provided is a front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16.

As in some embodiments, the case where one end part of the toilet bowl part 16 through which the swirling flow Fa first passes is the front end part of toilet bowl part 16, and the one surface part 22X on which the one end part of toilet bowl part 16 is provided is the front surface part 22F of the toilet bowl part 16 is considered. In this case, the water discharge part 42 may be provided, for example, on a side surface part 22R adjacent to a circumferential opposite side of the swirling direction Dt with respect to the front surface part 22F (one surface part 22X) of the toilet bowl part 16 or the rear surface part 22B adjacent to the side surface part 22R.

The case where the one end part of the toilet bowl part 16 through which the swirling flow Fa first passes is the rear end part of the toilet bowl part 16, and the one surface part 22X on which the one end part of the toilet bowl part 16 is provided is the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 is considered. In this case, the water discharge part 42 may be provided, for example, on a side surface part 22L adjacent to a circumferential opposite side of the swirling direction Dt with respect to the rear surface part 22B (one surface part 22X) of the toilet bowl part 16 or the front surface part 22F adjacent to the side surface part 22L.

An example in which the upper guide part 72 is configured by an increase section 62 of a water conduit 48 is described, but a detailed example thereof is not particularly limited. The upper guide part 72 may be, for example, a protruding part which is formed on a bottom surface of a water flow path 46 of the water discharge part 42 or the shelf surface 50 of the water conduit 48. In addition to this, the upper guide part 72 may be an inclined surface which is formed thereon and has an upward gradient toward the swirling direction Dt.

An example in which the upper guide part 72 guides a part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part 42 upward, but the upper guide part 72 may guide the whole of the flush water upward.

An example in which an inner guide part 74 is configured by the increase section 62 of the water conduit 48 is described, but a detailed example thereof is not particularly limited. The inner guide part 74 may be, for example, a protruding part formed on the shelf surface 50 of the water conduit 48.

The upper guide part 72 and the inner guide part 74 may be provided at locations different from the vicinity of the water discharge port 44.

An example in which the upper guide part 72 and the inner guide part 74 are each configured by the same portion (increase section 62) of the water conduit 48, but may be configured by different portions, and either of them may be not to be provided.

An example in which the increase section 62 of the water conduit 48 is formed on an outer side of the water discharge part 42 is described, but may be on an inner side of the water discharge part 42.

The increase section 62 and the other section 68 of the water conduit 48 may be connected via a stepped surface without a decrease section 66.

For being structured to form the above-described first induction flow Fc, an example in which the flush toilet 10 includes the upper guide part 72 is described, but the flush toilet 10 may be not to include the upper guide part 72.

An example in which a steep slope region which is inclined to a vertical surface is formed, a first surface region 90 may be formed with a vertical surface region substantially parallel to the vertical surface.

The gentle slope regions 92 and 94 may be provided only on one of the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16.

A case is considered where the swirling flow Fa passes through the rear gentle slope region 94 and then passes through the front gentle slope region 92. In this case, in order to obtain the above-described effect (B), an inclination angle θb of the front gentle slope region 92 may be gentler than that of the rear gentle slope region 94.

An example in which the first surface region 90 is provided on the side surface part 22R of the toilet bowl part 16, and the second surface regions 92 and 94 are provided on the front surface part 22F and the rear surface part 22B of the toilet bowl part 16 is described. In addition to this, in plan view, the first surface region 90 is a curved surface shape having a radius of curvature within a third range, and the second surface regions 92 and 94 are a curved surface shape having a radius of curvature smaller than that within the third range, which may be provided at a position having no relation to the front surface part 22 and the like of the toilet bowl part 16. For example, a case is considered where in plan view, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part 26 has a rectangular shape, and side parts of four sides of the rectangular form a curved surface shaped first surface region 90 and corner parts of the four sides are the curved surface shaped second surface regions 92 and 94.

The embodiments and the modifications have been described in detail above. The above-described embodiment and modifications are merely examples. The contents of the embodiments and modifications can be subjected to many design changes such as change, addition, and deletion of components. In the above-described embodiments, the contents which can be changed in design as described above is emphasized by adding the description of “embodiment” and the like, but even the contents without such description can be changed in design. The hatching attached to the cross section of the drawing does not limit the material of the hatched object.

Any combination of the components set forth above is also effective as an embodiment of the technical idea that abstracts the embodiments and the modifications. For example, any explanatory matters of other embodiments may be combined with the embodiments, or any explanatory matters of the embodiments and other modifications may be combined with the modifications.

When the embodiments and modifications set forth above are generalized, the following technical ideas are derived.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the flush water guided upward by the upper guide part may form an induction flow which flows upward and then flows downward on the flush water path.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments according to some embodiments, the induction flow may join another water flow while flowing downward, and flow upward by a centrifugal force while running along the one surface part together with the other water flow which the induction flow joins. According to some embodiments, the washing range in one surface part can be more expanded in the top-bottom direction, as compared with the case where the induction flow does not flow upward while joining another water flow.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, an inner peripheral surface of the rim part may be, on the one surface part, provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from an upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without an overhang surface being formed. According to some embodiments, even if there is no overhang surface on the one surface part, it is possible to inhibit the flush water running along the continuous surface from jumping out.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the water discharge part may discharge the flush water into the toilet bowl part through an opening part formed on a side surface part of the toilet bowl part. According to some embodiments, compared with the case where the rear surface part of the toilet bowl part is formed with the opening part, a human hand easily reaches the opening part from the front side of the flush toilet and the good cleanability can be obtained.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part may be provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from an upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without the overhang surface being formed, and the inner peripheral surface of the rim part may be provided with the continuous surface in a range over the entire circumference of the toilet bowl part, at locations other than the opening part. According to some embodiments, since there is no overhang surface that is difficult for a human hand to reach in wiping in the wide circumferential range of the toilet bowl part, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part is easily wiped.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the flush toilet may further include a water conduit through which the flush water is guided to a swirling direction of the swirling flow, in which the water conduit may have a curved surface part constituting a lower inner corner part of the water conduit, the curved surface part may have an increase section in which a radius of curvature continuously increases as it goes toward the swirling direction, and the upper guide part may be configured by the increase section. According to some embodiments, the upper guide part can be configured without convex and concave in the wide range of the bottom surface of the water conduit, and the good design performance can be obtained.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the curved surface part may be provided in the swirling direction than the increase section, and may have a decrease section in which the radius of curvature continuously decreases as it goes toward the swirling direction. According to some embodiments, when there is the increase section in the curved surface part of the water conduit, a conspicuous stepped surface is not formed between the increase section and the other section having a smaller radius of curvature than the increase section in the swirling direction, and the good design performance can be obtained.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the flush toilet may have an overhang surface which is in contact with the flush water guided upward by the upper guide part. According to some embodiments, even if the supply amount of flush water from the flush water supply device sharply increases and the upper guide part makes the flush water greatly rising, the overhang surface can regulate the rising of the flush water.

Conventionally, the flush toilet has been proposed in which the continuous surface without the overhang surface is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rim part (see JP 2016-041880 A). The continuous surface is a surface which is continuous from the upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to the outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without forming the overhang surface. Since the overhang surface which is difficult to wipe and clean is not formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rim part, the good cleanability can be obtained.

When the toilet bowl part is washed by the flush water, the force of water may be amplified by joining a plurality of water flows to increase the washing ability of the toilet bowl part with the flush water. In this way, when the plurality of flows are joined, the splash are likely to occur at the junction point. If there is no overhang surface above the junction point, there is a risk that the splash may jump out of the toilet bowl part. Therefore, countermeasures against the above problems are required.

One of the objects of the present disclosure is to provide a technology capable of inhibiting the splash occurring at the junction point of the plurality of water flows from jumping out of the toilet bowl part.

A flush toilet according to some embodiments includes a toilet bowl part which has a bowl-shaped waste receiving surface, a rim part which forms an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part, a water discharge part which forms a swirling flow by discharging flush water into the toilet bowl part, and an inner guide part which is provided on a side surface part of the toilet bowl part and guides a part of the flush water colliding with the inner guide part radially inward, wherein the flush water guided by the inner guide part joins the swirling flow formed in the toilet bowl part radially inward than the inner peripheral surface of the rim part in plan view.

According to some embodiments, compared with the case where the whole flush water is guided by the inner guide part, the flow rate of the flush water which joins the swirling flow can be reduced, and the splash generated due to joining with the swirling flow can be inhibited. Therefore, even if the flush water and the swirling flow guided by the inner guide part join each other at the location where the overhang surface is not formed, it is possible to inhibit the splash from jumping out of the toilet bowl part.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the water discharge part may discharge the flush water into the toilet bowl part through the opening part formed on the side surface part of the toilet bowl part. According to some embodiments, compared with the case where the rear surface part of the toilet bowl part is formed with the opening part, a human hand easily reaches the opening part from the front side of the flush toilet and the good cleanability can be obtained.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part may be provided with the continuous surface which is continuous from the upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to the outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without the overhang surface being formed in the range over the entire circumference of the toilet bowl part, at the location other than the opening part. According to some embodiments, since there is no overhang surface that is difficult for a human hand to reach in wiping in the wide circumferential range of the toilet bowl part, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part is easily wiped.

The flush toilet of some embodiments may include a water conduit through which the flush water is guided to the swirling direction of the swirling flow, wherein the water conduit may have a curved surface part constituting a lower inner corner part of the water conduit, the curved surface part may have an increase section in which a radius of curvature continuously increases as it goes toward a swirling direction, and the inner guide part may be configured by the increase section. According to some embodiments, the inner guide part can be configured without convex and concave in the wide range of the bottom surface of the water conduit, and the good design performance can be obtained.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the swirling flow may be formed by a part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part. According to some embodiments, it may not be necessary to provide another water discharge part to form the swirling flow.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the inner guide part may be provided near a water discharge port on a downstream side than the water discharge port of the water discharge part. According to some embodiments, even if the flow rate of the flush water is reduced, the inside of the toilet bowl part can be washed extensively.

From the viewpoint of reducing the effort of wiping the continuous surface of the rim part, there is the case where the washing range by the flush water in the top-bottom direction is desired to be expanded. The technology disclosed in JP 2016-041880 A is not an idea specially devised from such a viewpoint, and has room for improvement.

One of the objects of the present disclosure is to provide a technology capable of expanding the washing range of the continuous surface of the rim part in the top-bottom direction.

The flush toilet according to some embodiments includes a toilet bowl part structured to have a bowl-like waste receiving surface, a rim part structured to form an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part, and a water discharge part structured to discharge flush water into the toilet bowl part to form a swirling flow, in which an inner peripheral surface of the rim part is provided with a first surface region provided on a side surface part of the toilet bowl part and a second surface region provided on one surface part of at least one of a front surface part and a rear surface part of the toilet bowl part, each of the first surface region and the second surface region is provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from the upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to the outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without the overhang surface being formed, and an inclination angle of the second surface region with respect to a vertical surface is gentler than that of the first surface region with respect to a vertical surface.

According to some embodiments, the flush water applied with a centrifugal force in the second surface region can easily reach the wide upper and lower range, as compared with the case where the inclination angle of the second surface region is the same as that of the first surface region. As a result, the washing range in the continuous surface of the second surface region can be expanded in the top-bottom direction.

The flush toilet according to some embodiments includes a toilet bowl part structured to have a bowl-like waste receiving surface, a rim part structured to form an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part, and a water discharge part structured to discharge flush water into the toilet bowl part to form a swirling flow, in which an inner peripheral surface of the rim part is provided with a first surface region having a curved surface shape with a radius of curvature within a first range, and a second surface region having a curved surface shape with a radius of curvature larger than that of the first region in plan view, each of the first surface region and the second surface region is provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from the upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to the outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without the overhang surface being formed, and an inclination angle of the second surface region with respect to a vertical surface is gentler than that of the first surface region with respect to a vertical surface.

According to some embodiments, the flush water applied with a centrifugal force in the second surface region can easily reach the wide upper and lower range, as compared with the case where the inclination angle of the second surface region is the same as that of the first surface region. As a result, the washing range in the continuous surface of the second surface region can be expanded in the top-bottom direction.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the water discharge part may discharge the flush water into the toilet bowl part through the opening part formed on the first surface region. According to some embodiments, in plan view, an opening part is less noticeable than forming the opening part in the second surface region, and the good design performance can be obtained.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part may be provided with the continuous surface in the range over the entire circumferential of the toilet bowl part, at the location other than the opening part. According to some embodiments, since there is no overhang surface that is difficult for a human hand to reach in wiping in the wide circumferential range of the toilet bowl part, the inner peripheral surface of the rim part is easily wiped.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the second surface region may include the one side second surface region provided on the one surface part, and the other side second surface region provided on the other surface part out of the front surface part and the rear surface part of the toilet bowl part. According to some embodiments, the washing range in the front surface part of the toilet bowl part, which is easily soiled by urine, can be expanded. Also, the washing range in the rear surface part of the toilet bowl part, which is difficult to wipe off, can be expanded.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the swirling flow may pass through the one side second surface region and then pass through the other side second surface region, and the other side second surface region may have a gentler inclination angle to the vertical surface than the one side second surface region. When the swirling flow passes through the other side second surface region, the force of water of the swirling flow becomes weaker than when passing through the one side second surface region. According to some embodiments, even when a swirling flow having a weak force of water passes through the other side second surface region, it is possible to easily make the flush water reach the wide height range of the other side second surface region.

The flush toilet of some embodiments may include a water conduit through which the flush water is received by a shelf surface and is guided to a swirling direction of the swirling flow, in which the inner peripheral end part of the shelf surface may be provided at a substantially bilateral symmetrical position. According to some embodiments, when the shape of the shelf surface or the like is a bilateral asymmetry due to a manufacturing error or the like, the bilateral asymmetry is easy to visually identify and an inspection work can be facilitated.

The flush toilet of some embodiments may include a water conduit through which the flush water is received by a shelf surface and is guided to a swirling direction of the swirling flow, in which the shelf surface may be connected to the second surface region in the swirling direction from a front end or a rear end of the toilet bowl part provided on the one surface part. According to some embodiments, the flush water which rises by being applied with a centrifugal force while passing through the second region and then falls is easily received by the shelf surface. As a result, a lot of flush water passing through the second surface region can reach far through the water conduit.

In the flush toilet of some embodiments, the waste receiving surface has a recessed curved surface part provided on the front surface part of the toilet bowl part, and the recessed curved surface part may be continuous from a lower end edge part of the waste receiving surface to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface at least at the left-right central part of the toilet bowl part. According to some embodiments, since the inner peripheral end part of the protruding curved shelf surface is not provided at the left-right central part of the toilet bowl part, it is possible to inhibit the splash of urine. 

1. A flush toilet, comprising: a toilet bowl part structured to have a bowl-like waste receiving surface; a rim part structured to form an upper end side portion of the toilet bowl part; and a water discharge part structured to discharge flush water into the toilet bowl part to form a swirling flow, wherein a first surface part out of the toilet bowl part is provided with an end part of the toilet bowl part in a front-rear direction, and the flush toilet further comprises an upper guide part structured to be provided on a flush water path from the water discharge part to the end part and guide at least a part of the flush water upward.
 2. The flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the flush water guided upward by the upper guide part forms an induction flow which flows upward and then flows downward on the flush water path.
 3. The flush toilet of claim 2, wherein the induction flow joins another water flow while flowing downward, and flows upward by a centrifugal force while running along the first surface part together with the other water flow which the induction flow joins.
 4. The flush toilet of claim 1, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the rim part is, on the the first surface part, provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from an upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without an overhang surface being formed.
 5. The flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the water discharge part discharges the flush water into the toilet bowl part through an opening part formed on a side surface part of the toilet bowl part.
 6. The flush toilet of claim 5, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the rim part is provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from an upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without the overhang surface being formed, and the inner peripheral surface of the rim part is provided with the continuous surface in a range over the entire circumference of the toilet bowl part, at a location other than the opening part.
 7. The flush toilet of claim 1, further comprising: a water conduit through which the flush water is guided to a swirling direction of the swirling flow, wherein the water conduit has a curved surface part constituting a lower inner corner part of the water conduit, the curved surface part has an increase section in which a radius of curvature continuously increases as the increase section goes toward the swirling direction, and the upper guide part is configured by the increase section.
 8. The flush toilet of claim 7, wherein the curved surface part has a decrease section which is provided in the swirling direction than the increase section, and in which the radius of curvature continuously decreases as the decrease section goes toward the swirling direction.
 9. The flush toilet of claim 1, further comprising: an overhang surface which is in contact with the flush water guided upward by the upper guide part.
 10. The flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the flush toilet is structured to form an induction flow, which flows upward and then flows downward on the flush water path, by guiding at least a part of the flush water upward on the flush water path.
 11. The flush toilet of claim 1, further comprising: an inner guide part structured to be provided on a side surface part of the toilet bowl part and guide a part of the flush water colliding with the inner guide part radially inward, wherein the flush water guided by the inner guide part joins the swirling flow formed in the toilet bowl part radially inward than the inner peripheral surface of the rim part in plan view.
 12. The flush toilet of claim 11, wherein the water discharge part discharges the flush water into the toilet bowl part through an opening part formed on a side surface part of the toilet bowl part.
 13. The flush toilet of claim 12, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the rim part is, in the range over the entire circumference of the toilet bowl part at the location other than the opening part, provided with the continuous surface which is continuous from the upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to the outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without an overhang surface being formed.
 14. The flush toilet of claim 11, further comprising: a water conduit through which the flush water is guided to a swirling direction of the swirling flow, wherein the water conduit has a curved surface part constituting a lower inner corner part of the water conduit, the curved surface part has an increase section in which a radius of curvature continuously increases as the increase section goes toward the swirling direction, and the inner guide part is configured by the increase section.
 15. The flush toilet of claim 11, wherein the swirling flow is formed by a part of the flush water discharged from the water discharge part.
 16. The flush toilet of claim 11, wherein the inner guide part is provided near a water discharge port on a downstream side than the water discharge port of the water discharge part.
 17. The flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the rim part has a first surface region provided on a side surface part of the toilet bowl part and a second surface region provided on the first surface part, each of the first surface region and the second surface region is provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from the upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without an overhang surface being formed, and an inclination angle of the second surface region with respect to a vertical surface is gentler than that of the first surface region with respect to the vertical surface.
 18. The flush toilet of claim 17, wherein the water discharge part discharges the flush water into the toilet bowl part through an opening part formed on the first surface region.
 19. The flush toilet of claim 18, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the rim part is provided with the continuous surface in the range over the entire circumferential of the toilet bowl part at the location other than the opening part.
 20. The flush toilet of claim 17, wherein the second surface region includes a first side second surface region provided on the first surface part, and a second side second surface region provided on a second surface part of the toilet bowl part.
 21. The flush toilet of claim 20, wherein the swirling flow passes through the first side second-surface region and then passes through the second side second surface region, and the second side second surface region has a gentler inclination angle to the vertical surface than the first side second surface region.
 22. The flush toilet of claim 17, further comprising: a water conduit through which the flush water is received by a shelf surface and is guided to a swirling direction of the swirling flow, wherein the inner peripheral end part of the shelf surface is provided at a substantially bilateral symmetrical position.
 23. The flush toilet of claim 17, further comprising: a water conduit through which the flush water is received by a shelf surface and is guided to a swirling direction of the swirling flow, wherein the shelf surface is connected to the second surface region in the swirling direction than a front end or a rear end of the toilet bowl part provided on the first surface part.
 24. The flush toilet of claim 23, wherein the waste receiving surface has a recessed curved surface part provided on a front surface part of the toilet bowl part, and the recessed curved surface part is continuous from a lower end edge part of the waste receiving surface to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface at least at a left-right central part of the toilet bowl part.
 25. The flush toilet of claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the rim part has a first surface region having a curved surface shape with a radius of curvature within a first range, and a second surface region having a curved surface shape with a radius of curvature smaller than that of the first region in plan view, each of the first surface region and the second surface region is provided with a continuous surface which is continuous from the upper end inner edge part of the toilet bowl part to an outer peripheral end part of the waste receiving surface without an overhang surface being formed, and an inclination angle of the second surface region with respect to a vertical surface is gentler than that of the first surface region with respect to the vertical surface. 